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RECAP | BOX SCORE
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- After Ron Dixon knocked the wind
out of the Philadelphia Eagles on the opening kickoff, Jason Sehorn
and the New York Giants defense never let them recover. Dixon raced almost untouched for 97 yards and Sehorn tipped a
ball to himself and scored on a spectacular 32-yard interception
return as the Giants defeated the Eagles 20-10 on Sunday to advance
to the NFC title game for the first time since 1990. This trip might be the most unexpected for the Giants, who
didn't start playing well until coach Jim Fassel guaranteed late in
the season that they would make the playoffs for the first time
since 1997. The win over the Eagles was similar to the Giants' two other
victories over Philadelphia this season. New York contained
quarterback Donovan McNabb and came up with the big plays. "It's fortunate that everybody plays badly when we play against
them," Sehorn said sarcastically. "We're not a very good football
team." The Giants (13-4) will face Minnesota (12-5) here next week for
the right to go to Tampa, Fla., on Jan. 28 for the Super Bowl. The
Vikings beat New Orleans 34-16 on Saturday. "I'm not satisfied yet," said Giants defensive end Michael
Strahan, who had two of the team's six sacks. "They're a very good
team. They're very explosive and make more plays than anybody. We
have our work cut out for us." The victory was the Giants' sixth straight since Fassel's
guarantee, but this one was by far their worst performance in the
streak. Luckily, it came against a team New York has dominated since Fassel took over four years ago. The Giants have beaten the Eagles
nine straight times, including three this season. Still, New York played well enough to celebrate this one with
1:54 to play by showering Fassel on the sideline. "We put those other games behind," Eagles cornerback Al Harris
said of their struggles against New York. "Those two big plays
that they had were really the difference in the game." The Giants tried to be generous against the Eagles (12-6) this
time, turning the ball over three times, but Sehorn, Strahan and
the rest of the defense again confounded McNabb. He rushed for only
17 yards on five carries and lost 41 yards because of the sacks as
the Eagles were limited to 186 total yards. "We forced him to be a pocket passer," Sehorn said. "That's
not their scheme. Their scheme is to move him around and do a lot
of things with him. He is a gifted player. You want to put him in
one place, and we made him stay in one place." McNabb, who was 20-for-41 for 181 yards and one interception,
didn't get Philadelphia to the end zone until a blocked punt set up
a 10-yard TD pass to Torrance Small. But the Giants recovered the
onside kick and ran out the clock. The Giants, who were limited to 237 total yards, did not play
the Vikings this season. But this will be a grudge match for New
York, which was eliminated from the playoffs in 1997 by Minnesota
after blowing a nine-point lead in the final 1:38 of a wild-card
game. The Giants needed only 17 seconds to show the Eagles that things
would be no different in this game, which was played on a rather
pleasant day with temperatures in the upper 30s.
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Like Your Chances Now?
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None of the four remaining playoff teams were considered serious Super Bowl contenders before the season started. Here are the odds to win the Super Bowl offered on Aug. 11, 2000 by Las Vegas Sports Consultants, which supplies lines to the majority of Nevada's legal bookmakers. |
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Team
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Odds
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Oakland
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20-1
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Baltimore
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25-1
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Minnesota
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50-1
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New York
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100-1
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Dixon, who was suspended for a game against the Steelers on Dec.
10 for oversleeping for a team meeting, had little trouble
answering the bell for this one. He fielded David Akers' kick at
the 3-yard line, went straight through a gaping hole in the middle
and sprinted into the end zone after running around Akers at the
Giants' 40-yard line. "This was a special game, and I just wanted to make a special
play," Dixon said. The defense set up the next 10 points. Shaun Williams forced a fumble by Small late in the first
quarter and Dave Thomas recovered at the Eagles' 34. Six plays
later, Brad Daluiso kicked a 37-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead. He
added a 25-yarder in the fourth quarter. Sehorn broke the Eagles' back with 1:40 left in the half with a
highlight-film interception. He dived in front of Small on an out
pattern, momentarily got his hands on the ball, then tipped it in
the air and caught it. He quickly got up and ran for the touchdown,
making one fake at the 20. "I have never seen an interception as good as that one,"
Fassel said. "That was tremendous athleticism in making the play,
but our defense was strong. I have seen our defense play well at
times, but I don't think I've seen our defense take over a game
like that." The Eagles' best chance to get back into the game came in the
third quarter when Amani Toomer, subbing on punt returns for Tiki
Barber, fumbled and Mike Bartrum recovered at New York's 32. McNabb drove Philadelphia to the Giants 13, but he didn't come
close on a third-down pass, and Akers hooked a 31-yard field goal
attempt wide right.
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RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Coach Jim Fassel and the Giants discuss their victory over the Eagles.
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 Andy Reid and the Eagles had hoped to continue on in the playoffs.
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Michael Strahan stops to talk with ESPN's Sal Paolantonio after the Giants' win over the Eagles.
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Jim Fassel and his team worked hard to get to the NFC championship game.
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Donovan McNabb looks forward to continuing the Eagles' success.
wav: 155 k
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Jason Sehorn and the Giants have benefited from good timing this season.
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FROM
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Kerry Collins Official Site
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